At the end of
the day, Christians see all the wonderful arguments that show how things in the
material realm declare the glory of the God who is spirit, who dwells in unapproachable
light, and reveals his glory in all that he has made. At the same time, Evolutionists
see that there was no proof of God in the material realm, and so they are
justified to continue without God.
Now, I say
that both sides are arguing from a different realm, rather than merely from a
different worldview, because Christians have actually been called “out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9) Those who have been born again from
above[3] see
things through the experience of God’s “marvelous
light” showing them the way, while Evolutionists and Atheists are still
living in the darkness of the world. These two opposing worlds make agreement
impossible.[4]
Or, as Paul
put it, “He has
delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his
beloved Son, in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
(Colossians 1:13-14) This means that, when Christians debate, they are
describing life as they now see it from the view of Jesus’ kingdom. They no
longer see life through the bondage of their sin, but through the liberation of
redemption. Evolutionists and Atheists are still slaves of the domain of
darkness, and so they see life by quite a different viewpoint.
Paul
explains why this is so:
4 In their case the god of
this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the
light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus
Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let
light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II
Corinthians 4)
When
Christians get into debates with non-Christians, whether they be evolutionist,
atheist, or a member of one of the many religions or philosophies of the world,
they are talking to people who are inherently blind to the brightness of the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”
No matter what we say, they will not see “the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” It
is impossible for them to do so.
While
the Bible shows that the preaching of the gospel will include debates with
non-believers, it also shows that there is no call for us to put our hope in
debates. Light and darkness will never, and can never agree.
What,
then, do we keep in mind as we face this conflict of non-believers’ inability
to perceive spiritual truth? Although many thoughts flood my mind in answer to
this question,[5] I settle on this: “For we are
the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who
are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the
other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:15-16)
This
reminds us that God’s children “are” what we “are”. We are the aroma of Christ.
Once we come into Christ, we begin more and more to look like him, sound like
him, and even smell like him. He is life, and so we take on the aroma of life.
To those who are being saved, this is the most wonderful fragrance they have
ever encountered. At the same time, those who prefer the deadness of their sins
smell the very same aroma of Christ as the fragrance of death.
The
point is that, instead of falling into the trap of arguments and quarrels that
Paul condemned,[6] we are to waft the aroma of Christ to the world around us and
accept that those who are being saved will smell the life and come to life,
while those who are perishing will hate the life of Christ and will believe
they are smelling death warmed over, as they say.
The
best thing for us to do each day is live like branches of Christ.[7] If we “abide” in Jesus, living in him, remaining in him, focusing
first and foremost on our connection to him, our daily fellowship with him as a
branch attached to the vine, we will bear much fruit, we will be effective in
prayer, we will find lost sheep, we will see the seed of God’s word fall on
good soil, we will see prodigals come home, we will rejoice when even one
sinner comes to repentance because they suddenly recognize that the fragrance
wafting through their heart was the life of Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
the Lord of hosts, the Prince of Peace, the Giver of Life.
“He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of
joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”[8]
From my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
[1]
“For his invisible
attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been
made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans
1:20)
[2]
“The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.” They are
corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” (Psalm
14:1)
[3]
John 3:3, 7; I Peter 1:3, 23
[4]
I should add that, when there is suddenly agreement between so-called
Christians and Worldlings, we should preach Christ all the more clearly until
it is once again clear who lives in which realm.
[5]
Jesus’ parables often show that the preaching of the kingdom of heaven will
expose who is “good” and who is “bad”, so that we will be fully devoted to the
preaching of the gospel no matter what kind of soil this good seed falls upon.
[6]
I Timothy 6:4; II Timothy 2:14
[7]
John 15:1-11
[8]
Psalm 126:6
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